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Monday: Late Update
posted at 2008-07-01 01:46 | Last modified 2008-07-01 08:50
The budget heads upstairs
House Sr Budget Chair Mickey Michaux said tonight that budget talks have gone about as far as they can go, but substantial differences remain in education and capital spending. “We’re just knockin’ heads,” he told a hastily-convened Approps meeting tonight. “That’s the best I can tell you.”
So negotiators have agreed to “kick it upstairs” – that is, let Speaker Joe Hackney and Pro Tem Marc Basnight hash out what’s left.
Michaux says they did reach agreement on teachers’ raises, ABC bonuses, and fuel money for school buses. But UNC enrollment growth remains a thorny issue, along with “one or two other little items.” His comments are here.
Listen Now!
They did pass a mini-CR for grant funding, by the way – it made it through both chambers and past the governor’s desk by 9:00pm. That bill’s here.
Involuntary Annexation
A nine-month moratorium proposal passed the House tonight with flying colors, 99-15. But that was the easy part. Tuesday, the bill will get more debate plus floor amendments from both sides of the aisle. There’s a good chance at least one lawmaker will ask for an exemption for his/her own district. Can’t wait to hear how THAT goes.
Video poker redux
House J1 chair Deborah Ross announced tonight they’ll be hearing a gut-&-amend tomorrow – a committee bill that’s had its contents replaced with something else someone decided needs to be heard this year. This time, it’s (about to be) a bill banning server-based sweepstakes – aka video poker. Binker has details.
Ars longis, bucks brevis
The N&O’s Ben Niolet reports this evening that state taxpayers shelled out bigtime for “cultural [arts] exchange” trips by First Lady Mary Easley and other state officials. The trips to France, Russia, and Estonia included luxury hotels, four-star dining, and tickets to the ballet. The total tab: $109,000. (I am CLEARLY in the wrong line of work.)
Okay, sure, in light of a $21B budget, that’s a rounding error. But it’s all a matter of perspective– and to struggling arts organizations right here in NC, that’s real money.
Just for context’s sake, here’s a few of the House’s proposed cuts to operational program budgets in the Dept of Cultural Resources - the agency that paid the $109K bill:
- Basic Grants Program – loses $42K
- Grassroots Arts Program- loses $29K
- NC Symphony Society – loses $11K
- Lost Colony – loses $2500
- NC Shakespeare Festival – loses $2500
- Quiz Bowl – loses $3000
- CSS Neuse – loses $1500
- Maritime Museum – loses $1500
- Vagabond School of Drama – loses $465
- Charlotte Hawkins Brown Memorial – loses $500
That’s $94K worth of cuts right there, all to groups that employ artists, artisans, and cultural experts in NC. To be fair, some of these programs would get other funding. But most of them would take a net loss.
Too bad they don't live in Russia, Estonia, or France.
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